Hawkers to march outside Rishi Kapoor's Mumbai residence to demand right to livelihood

Azad Hawkers Union will be protesting outside actor Rishi Kapoor's residence in Pali Hill, Bandra, on Sunday. Kapoor had led an agitation called by Pali Hill residents against marking the lane outside his residence as a hawking zone.

While more residents are coming out in protest of hawking zones in Mumbai, hawker unions too have called for an agitation. Azad Hawkers Union will be protesting outside actor Rishi Kapoor's residence in Pali Hill, Bandra, on Sunday. Kapoor had led an agitation called by Pali Hill residents against marking the lane outside his residence as a hawking zone.

"We will gather in the area and try to inform the affluent Pali Hill residents that the zone is as per the Supreme Court norm. We want to tell them that even we have the right to livelihood. It will be a peaceful march, with more than 500 hawkers taking part in it," Dayashankar Singh, president, Azad Hawkers Union.

After Colaba and Bandra, residents of Matunga and Hindu Colony are now up in arms against the demarcation of hawking zones in the city. In Matunga, over 5,500 signatures have been submitted to the local ward office as objections from Dadar, Parsi Colony and Hindu Colony residents.

Matunga residents have demanded that a hearing should be given by the town vending committee formed as per the Supreme Court order; failing which it threatened to move court against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Vinay Gathani, president, Matunga Youngsters Club, said, "If the BMC goes ahead with the hawking zone demarcation, the area will turn into a Crawford Market. There are 1,800 pitches marked by the BMC in Matunga and Hindu Colony alone. This location has largely remained a peaceful area in the city. We don't want it to be ruined."

In Matunga, huge boards have been put up by the club asking citizens to come out and put forward their objections and suggestions.

Rajeev Mehta, one of the residents, said, "We would move court if we are not heard by the town vending committee. Many of us would also be part of the Sunday agitation against this."

Not for profits and resident associations are coming together on streets on Sunday to protest against the demarcation of hawking zones by the civic body.